HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 23 August 1934, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, August 22. Old residents of this district will hear with regret of the death which took place yesterday unexpectedly of Mrs Murphy (nee May Lauge), wife of Mr E. Murphy, hotelkeeper, of Timaru. The deceased was the third daughter of Mr and Mrs John Lange, former well-known residents of Hokitika some forty years ago, the father being a well-known jeweller in Revell Street over many years. A husband, two sisters and a brother are left. Fifty additional patients for Seaview Mental Hospital have arrived from Seacliff, and have taken up their residence in the new villa, which has just been completed. A special meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council was held at noon today for the purpose of receiving the audited balance sheet for the year ended March 31, 1934. Tenders for the printing of the balance sheet were received, and the lowest that of Mr W. E. Richards, was accepted. Tn view of the continued complaints about wadnering stock in the district, the County Council is calling for applications for a competent stockman to clear the. roads and highways of the district. There is a well-organised movement to revise the Operatic Society, for the production of an opera, as soon as convenient. The reconditioning of the main highway adjacent to the town is now in hand. A number of extra men are employed and the work is to be advanced as rapidly as possible in preparation for the tar sealing in a few months’, time. The Te Ar oh a sails as soon as the sea moderates. The Gael sailed this morning for Wellington, and sails from there on Saturday on a return journey. Captain J. C. Mercer, in a Canterbury Aero Club Fox Moth machine, arrived at Hokitika, after having travelled up the coast from Okuru, and landing at Waiho en route. On his trip down he took the District Engineer (Mr J. Smith), land purchase officer (Mr F. S. Reed), and Mr Smart (surveyor). The latter stopped at Okuru to carry out survey operations.

Captain Mercer, accompanied by Mr Paul Renton, junr., left Hokitika at 9 a.in. ■on Monday for Ross, where the first official landing was made on the Ross aerodrome, which has recently Leon prepared. There was a large crowd assembled to welcome the visitors. The new landing ground is situated between the township and Ross railway station, on the tailing site of the old Mont D’Or sluicing claim, and is formed of the sluice silt from the ulaim. There is an area of some 500 acres available. Portion of this has been drained and levelled, and the work is of an easy nature, there being only fine gravel and sand comprising the area. Captain Mercer received a warm welcome. Tie made a perTeet landing, and spoke highly of the possibilities of the ground for aeroplane landing purposes, considering it could be easily made into one of the finest landing places on the Coast. Captain Mercer left Ross later and landed at. Southside aerodrome about 10.30 o’clock, after a pleasant morning run. At the Westland Rugby Sub-Union weekly meeting there were present Messrs J. C. Stafford (President), A. Cutbush, F. McGregor, D. Breeze, .1. McCleary, A. 11. Lawn, S. Ogilvie, A. Thompson, .1. L. Menzies, C. Reese, and I). R. Dowell. The West ('oast Union issued a challenge, for the Dittman Shield, suggesting September I as the dale. It was decided to reply that that date had been booked for the West land v. South Westland match, and requesting the West Coast Union to submit another date. Permission was granted the Excelsior junior team to travel to Westport cm September 1. Tin* junior competition was declare! closed, the winners lAd ng the Ross team. It was decided that nominations <dose next Monday evening for the junior knock-out competition. In view of the representative match, Nelson v. West Coast, next Saturday, the senior fixtures were postponed. Mr McGregor was appointed manager of

the junior representative team to plav at Greymouth next Saturday, Mr Breeze also to accompany the team. The Westland junior representatives to play West Coast at Greymouth on Saturday is as follows; Weiblitz (Kokatahi), Childs (S.), Richards (E.), •lolly (K.), Conning (R.), Ku Isen Hxok.), McCarthy (Sj, White (E.), Gox (E.), Mason (R.), Roberts (K.), Barker (R.), Tainui (E.), Baird (EA Stapleton (S.). Emergencies: For-’ ward, Growcott (P.) •_ back, West (R.). Country players must provide own conveyance to Hokitika. Bus leaves Newn>aa’s 1] a.m. Any player unable to play notify secretary.